Why This Matters
Digital applications rarely cut it on their own. Wall Street Journal reporting shows that recruiters increasingly rely on personal connections to sort through overwhelming applicant volume. (wsj.com) LinkedIn’s Economic Graph data echoes this: job seekers who secure an internal referral are up to 4× more likely to be hired than those who apply cold. (linkedin.com)
These career advice or industry chats are commonly known as informational interviews. They are the most efficient way to build those referral-ready relationships while gathering insider knowledge:
- A 2,200-CFO survey by Robert Half’s Accountemps division found 84 % of executives would flag openings to someone who impressed them during an informational chat. (glamour.com)
- NAFSA’s 2023 Forging Career Pathways brief identifies early, curiosity-driven employer conversations as a critical success factor for international students pursuing STEM OPT roles, because they surface sponsorship questions and demonstrate commitment ahead of formal hiring. (nafsa.org)
In short, a 15-minute career advice chat can deliver insider intel, highlight skill gaps, and create a warm advocate—long before your résumé enters an ATS.
Step | What to do | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Draft 3 TIARA questions (15 min) | Choose one each on Trends, Insights, Advice; reuse across multiple chats. | Gives structure and shows curiosity without grilling your contact. (TIARA framework) |
| 2. Record a 60-second intro (10 min) | Practice on your phone or BigInterview; focus on role target and recent project. | Smooth, confident intros set a professional tone and respect time. (Big Interview) |
| 3. Send two outreach emails from your LAMP list (15 min) | Adapt the 6-Point / 3B7 format; request 15 minutes. | Moves you from planning to action and starts conversation momentum. (book) (Beyond B School) |
| 4. Log key takeaways immediately after each chat (5 min) | Capture quotes, next steps, and any referrals in your tracker. | Ensures insights turn into follow-up actions, not forgotten notes. |
| 5. Send a value-add thank-you within 24 h (10 min) | Recap one insight and perhaps add in a relevant article, tool, or event link. | Transforms a single conversation into a budding professional relationship. |
Step | What to do | Why it levels you up |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Convert helpful contacts into “champions” (20 min) | Send an update on how you applied their advice; ask for feedback. | Demonstrates action and invites ongoing mentorship. |
| 2. Build a mentor loop (1 chat/month) | Rotate among three champions—check in quarterly about goals and market shifts. | Sustains guidance while avoiding over-asking a single person. |
| 3. Log repeat questions & insights(15 min/month) | Document patterns in your tracker; refine TIARA questions accordingly. | Sophisticates your conversations and shows growth when you reconnect. |
| 4. Pay it forward (ad hoc) | Share internship leads or resources with peers; introduce contacts to each other. | Generosity strengthens your reputation and multiplies goodwill. |
| 5. Leverage chats for targeted referrals (as opportunities arise) | When a champion mentions an opening, express interest with a succinct value statement and résumé link. | Translates relationship capital into concrete interview opportunities. |
Template / Framework | Purpose & 1-sentence how-to | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 6-Point Email + 3B7 Subject | < 125 words: Greeting • Hook • Ask • Why You • Why Them • Next Step • Thanks (subject = Blank + Benefit + 7-word button). | Beyond B-School Series (illinois.edu) |
| TIARA Questions | Prep one each on Trends, Insight, Advice, Role, Ask for any 15-min chat. | Rice Business School TIARA Framework handout (uconnectlabs.com) |
| Courtis/Dalton 3TY Method | Send a thank-you < 24 h expressing gratitude • highlighting insights • requesting permission to be back in touch | Don’t Make this Common Networking Mistake article (hbr.org) |
Need | Tool | Why it helps | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polish TIARA delivery | BigInterview – Elevator Pitch Module | Record & replay your intro and TIARA questions; AI scores pace, confidence, filler-word count. (big.interview.com) | |
| Validate résumé & LinkedIn before the chat | JobScan – LinkedIn Optimization Scan | Ensures headline & skills echo the contact’s company keywords, signaling preparation. (jobscan.com) | |
| Get tailored interview insights | Quinncia – AI Interview Prep | Upload résumé; platform generates industry-specific questions you can weave into your TIARA list. (quinncia.io) | |
| Jeremy Schifeling/HBS Linkedin + ChatGPT for Networking Video Workshop |
| ||
Citations
- Bowman, K. D. (2023, September 6). Forging career pathways: How connecting with career services can boost opportunities for international students. International Educator. NAFSA: Association of International Educators. https://www.nafsa.org/ie-magazine/2023/9/6/forging-career-pathways
- Dalton, S. (2019, April). MBA Get-Hired Boot Camp: The 2-Hour Job Search (Part 3): Reach out by writing and tracking simple, effective outreach emails [PowerPoint slides]. Gies Online Programs Career Services, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. ~https://publish.illinois.edu/giesonlineprogramscareerservices/files/2019/04/2HJS_BeyondBSchool_Part3_SLIDES-Reach-Out-by-Writing-and-Tracking-Simple-Effective-Outreach-Emails.pdf~
- Ellis, L. (2023, April 19). Landing a job is all about who you know (again). The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/job-search-networking-connections-referrals-11682054866
- Informational interview [PDF]. (2021, June). ~https://cdn.uconnectlabs.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/99/2021/06/Informational-Interview.pdf~
- Kramer, J. (2016, April 13). Looking for a new job? Don’t skip this step. Glamour. https://www.glamour.com/story/looking-for-a-new-job-dont-skip-this-step
- LinkedIn. (2024). LinkedIn for job seekers. https://socialimpact.linkedin.com/content/dam/me/linkedinforgood/en-us/resources/LinkedIn-for-JobSeekers-2024.pdf
